[lexapro]

>Specifically, will masks limit the total number COVID cases given enough time, or just slow the time it takes for everyone in the population to be infected?

Slowing the spread in order to not overburden hospitals (which causes death & mayhem and affects not just COVID patients) was always _the_ reason why we wear masks and have lockdowns. It's about slowing the pandemic, not ending the pandemic (that's maybe what the vaccines can do).

So yes, masks have an impact, they saved countless lives already. And yes, people will continue to break the law, but that's not a good reason to abolish the law and accept many many deaths.